Yuills were successful today in getting the planning application through for a large house at the entrance to PityMe on the site which they removed all the trees from a year or so ago.

The proposed building looks awful. Two and a half stories of glass at the end of a row of terraces – why on earth they couldn’t have put forward something more in keeping wit the area is beyond me.

I did manage to get conditions put on in relation to the times they are allowed to do the work and regarding drainage issues, but the planning committee, made up of 16 councillors, but only 4 from the former Durham City area, chose to approve this monstrosity.

It really is time that our planning committee was made up of councillors from the area, it would be more democratic and they have more local knowledge.